That was really stupid of me... Yuri thought to herself as she made her way over to the executive table to sign her contract. What had happened yesterday that I forgot to check my email and DMs?
As she went through the contract alone, without a manager, it naturally took her a while before she finished the whole thing. She checked everything and made notes on her phone too. After singing the documents, she called her small assistant over and handed her the contract.
"These should be fine now," she said. "Hand them over to the Assistant Director."
Just as she was about to stand up, her phone suddenly rang, surprising her. She quickly checked the Caller ID and a deep scowl appeared on her face.
"What the..." she hissed. "How did this bastard get my phone number?"
She quickly made an excuse to the Assistant Director and went out of the office. She checked the smaller office a few doors away from the studio if it was empty before coming in and answering the call.
"Why are you calling me in the middle of the day?!" She asked in a shrill voice. "Are you crazy?!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." A lazy, drawling voice sounded from the other end of the line. "I just called to ask about food."
"What-"
"You don't have any here. And you didn't leave me any money."
Yuri pursed her lips and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Why should I give you any money?"
"Come on, dear Sister," the voice at the other end of the line said. "Are you really going to treat me that way?"
"Park Kyung-Wan!" She felt a massive headache coming on as she raised her voice. "Do not ever say that we are brother and sister! I have long erased that past with you."
"How can you still say that, Yuri?" The male asked her in a lowered voice. "When you're the reason I went to prison?"
She felt her body turn cold at the man's words and dared not say anything as her thoughts went askew. All of a sudden, she did not know what to say.
"You... you-" her lips trembled at the sudden attack.
"Never mind then," Her so-called brother said. "I'll take care of it. I mean, I've always taken care of our food, right? Yuri?"
"Park Kyung-Wan, I-" she started.
"Well, off I go then," the person suddenly said. "I'll see you later!"
And the line went dead.
"No!" Yuri began to fumble with her phone as she tried calling the unknown number back.
The line rang and rang, but her 'Brother' did not pick up her call.
"This is not happening... Not happening!" She shouted in frustration just as the door swung open to reveal the Assistant Director's frame outside.
"Is there a problem?" He asked, concerned. "You were shouting in there."
Yuri looked down and calmed her racing heart. Better not to alert the Assistant Director about these matters, so...
"Just some nasty stalker," she breathed out heavily. "I just panicked a little, but I'm okay."
The Assistant Director just walked up to her and patted her shoulder. "That's the way to do it! It's just your first day as our cover girl and you're already making waves!"
She point-blank did not understand how this guy's mind worked, but nevertheless, she felt saved by his misunderstanding of the situation.
"You should go and start meeting with the photographers now," the Assistant Director ushered her out of the small office. "Let me tell you, they're not the most patient of the bunch, but they're the best in our country. The Madam has personally arranged for them to be here!"
He rattled off as he led her to the studio. As they got closer, they both saw Yuri's small assistant already at the door of the studio, looking in with such interest in her eyes and her mouth hanging open in awe. They saw camera flashes going off and reflecting from inside the room.
"What's going on?" The Assistant Director approached the small assistant. "You were supposed to be inside already. You're supposed to have prepared the clothes that Yuri will be wearing for the pre-shoot!"
The small assistant tore her eyes away from the spectacle and pointed a finger at the inside of the studio. She gazed at Yuri with trepidation.
"But the Madam's there along with the people from before..." She explained to the annoyed pair. "They were talking to the group inside and all of a sudden, the photographers decided they wanted to get them in frames."
Yuri's eyebrow shot up and she walked up to the door to peek in. People from before? She thought as she situated herself beside the door. Don't tell me...
"Who? What people from before...?" The Assistant Director squeezed himself between the two ladies and decided to just come in unannounced.
"Brother Yang, wait-" Yuri started, but he pushed her aside and went in.
What greeted him inside and made him stop in his tracks were the elegant smile of the company's Madam Song and a certain heiress' warm aura. His dark eyes naturally stayed glued to the youthful girl who was standing in the middle of the room. She talked and laughed naturally while the photographers shot pictures of her and the Madam as they conversed with each other.
Behind him, Yuri and Mi-Young went in and waited for their presence to be known. They had to at least keep their heads down and be quiet as the company owner was there.
"Ah, Director Yang!" Madam Song noticed the presence of the Assistant Director at last. "We thought to visit your area as part of Lady Chung's guided tour."
The young girl bowed to him respectfully as she introduced herself. "Good to meet you, Director Yang. My name is Chung Ji-Eun."
Chung? The Assistant Director's mind whirled as he bowed to the girl in return. "It's nice meeting you, Ms. Chung."
And then he turned to Madam Song, eager to ask something. "Madam Song, I'm sorry that I wasn't here when you arrived. I was helping out our new cover girl with her contract as there had been a small issue about it."
"Has everything been settled then?"
"Yes, everything's okay now."
There were a few seconds of silence as Director Yang cleared his throat.
"Uh, Madam," Director Yang started. "Is Ms. Chung a part of our shoot today?"
The youthful girl looked at him in surprise.
"Oh, no, no..." The Madam answered as her eyes twinkled. "I will make sure to talk her into modeling for us one day. But today..."
The Madam smiled at the girl, "Today, she only came as The Little City's benefactor."